Hilo jungle from Tracey’s back deck.
Eat a Rainbow
I am writing in rainy Hilo, Hawaii. I am here for two weeks visiting my cousin, Tracey, who lives here. Tropical rain has its own voice. From thunderous deluge to hissing mist, snickering drizzle to drumming downpour, the rain here dominates the exterior and interior landscapes.
There is a stream in the deep gully behind the house, completely invisible now, covered by a thick bamboo grove, tall avocado trees, and ferns like multi-fingered giants’ hands. Tracey said, “Listen, we have a waterfall now.” Some days, it’s barely audible. Today, after three days of rain, it’s happily free-falling, a steady, loud background for the waves of dripping water.
Hilo is the rainiest city in Hawaii. As a New Englander visiting in February, craving heat and sun, this can be a challenge. But the rain also creates the lush, vibrant growth of the jungle around me. I am opening myself to the idea that this rain can also promote growth in me as I prepare to eat a rainbow.
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